Proposition 89, The Clean Money Initiative, is on the November Ballot in California. Prop 89 establishes public financing for candidates AND for ballot measures. In both cases, Clean Money ends the current system of legalized bribery that finances candidates and initiatives.
Others have diaried about Clean Money recently here, here, here, and here.
So what's new in this diary? During a recent spell of insomnia, my son-in-law identified a dozen reasons to fight government corruption by supporting Prop 89. Since I share Kos links every day with him and with my daughter, they hoped I'd share their work and passion here. This is my first diary after years of reading and commenting. I hope you will read it, comment, and most of all, take action with the organization of your choice (links at end) and by sending my son in law's dozen to everyone you know. Look over the fold for 12 reasons to support YES ON 89:
1.
Legalized bribery has led to corruption at all levels of government. The current system makes candidates more beholden to the interests and lobbyists that contribute money to their campaigns than to their constituents.
2.
More women, more minority and more working class candidates win elections in Clean Money states.
3. Clean Money elections
put power back in the hands of the people. Prop 89 will restore democracy - money should not equal electoral power.
4.
Ending legalized bribery is the first step to enacting the reforms a majority of Californians care about - reforms that are in limbo thanks to big money interests:
- Insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies have blocked progress on
health care reforms including universal health care and prescription drug benefits for seniors;
- Banking lobbies have blocked reform of
predatory lending practices (e.g., mortgages, credit cards and payday loans);
- Developers and builders have stood in the way of
affordable, integrated housing;
- The prison industry has fought
more effective alternatives to youth prisons;
- Food industry lobbyists have blocked
immigration reform;
- Polluters and the oil industry have stymied
environmental reforms to reduce global warming.
5. Prop 89
equalizes, rather than limits,
free speech. The proposition is legal and can withstand legal challenge - similar laws have been upheld in other states.
6.
People on both sides of the aisle benefit equally, since Prop 89 limits bribery by both big business and unions. Clean Money is a non-partisan issue.
7.
Pork barrel spending costs each of us $1,000's each year when politicians return favors for contributions. Ending legalized bribery will cost taxpayers less than the price of a movie ticket each year.
8. Prop 89 will
restore the ballot initiative system so that it is people driven rather than money driven. (As sandlapper diaried
here the dangerous Prop 90 would not be on the ballot without major support from NY libertarian financier Howie Rich.)
9. We can
stop legalized bribery at the federal level and in other states if California leads the way.
10. Clean Money elections will
increase voter turnout; in states that have adopted public financing of elections, more people vote because they know their votes count.
11. Clean Money is
working well in states that have adopted it.
12. State financed campaigns allow
politicians to spend their time on the issues instead of raising money through legalized bribery.
Please do what you can to help Yes on 89. Send my son-in-law's 12 Reasons to Support Prop 89 to all your friends and relatives; talk to everyone you know, and even to those you don't know; donate to Yes on Prop 89 and the organizations leading the campaign: California Nurses Association, League of Women Voters of California, California Common Cause, SEIU California State Council, Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, and CalPIRG.
AND VOTE!
This is much better than counting sheep, isn't it!